Exercising apparatus



April 5, 1927. 1,623,671

L. FRANKENFELD EXERCISING'APPARATUS Filed May 14, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Submtoz Leo Frankanfe ld.

April 5, 1927'.

L. FRANKE NFE LD EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed May 14, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwe mtoz Leo 'Frankenf l Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

omen.

LEOTFRANKENFVELDL OF HoBoKEn, NEW mas E3 .lt lplicaitio n filed m 14,

This invention relates to an improved exercising apparatus.

Tlheinaifn object of the invention is-to provide an improved fotmof exercising apparatus which is complete in itself, and is atall times available for use at any place or position at-which it is desired to use the same, without necessitating the use of hooks or other mam-es which have to be attached to a floor, wall or other such means of support, the apparatus being desigii'ed to permit easy and ready connection or disconnection of adjustment of the efiect iveil'e'ngth of exercising devices or elements, and also to prevent or reduce to a minimum the possibility of acci dent or mishap dueto breakage of connections. Y a 1 Another object of the invention is to provide an entremely simple but strong and eflif cien t construction of exercising apparatus adapted to occupy a minimum" of space when not in useand adapt-ed to be vei y' easily and quickly setup foruse to eiiable" va'r igms exeroises to be pe'itormedibythe use thereof.-

The invention is illustrated in the acco1npanying draiving's in Xt llldll li y Figure I is a view in' perspective of an exercising device in accordance with the present invention. 7 L k Fg'. 2- is an enlarged View showing the means employed for connecting the individual exercising devices or elements to'the base of the apparatus. H i Fig. 3 i'sa view similar to Fig-1 2 but showing a slightly modified form ofconnectlng means between the exercising devices and the base or platformyand -Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one of the exercising devices or elements forming part of theimproved apparatus; Y

Similar numeralsrelie i' to similar parts throughout the several views y A The exercising apparatus according to this invention, as shown in Fig; l of the accompanying drawings, consistsof a baseoeplatform 1, Whichinay be made of any suitable material, such as ood, or may be azstamping of metal. such as aluminlun. The base or olatforinis' made of sufficient size to enabl e a person to stand comfortably thereon, or to sit or lie tliereon according; to the nature of the exercises which are to be performed; the weight of the person in any place holding the' base or platform firmly upon the floor or ground; Theba seor plat: forincmay be made n one piece as shown or APPARATTfs.

1925. serial so; 30,159.

it may be made in av-o sectionsof equal size 1 hinged together by means of hinges so as to ,enaeieone section to be folded over upon the bracl'zetbeing provided With an aperture or apertures 5 therein.

The in'c'lividual ei ercising devices or ele ments of which there are a plurality marked 6 and 7 are attached to thebase through the medium of a coi'mectinp," element extending the upoer' surt'aceof the base, each lug- 'oi' i between the apeitured lugs or brackets 4 of the base, which connecting element is of a flexible nature and permits of ready adjustment of the points of connection of the ends of the exercising elements, and at the same time serves to limit the upward movement of the end or eye of the exercisingelement in the case of breakage so as to prevent accident or mishap;

This connecting; element in the particular form o1 exerciser as illustrated in Figs; 1-

a'nd 2 of the drawings; comprises a length of chain SVlllCll is connected at its ends to the apert-ured' lugs 01' brackets t of the base 01 platform 1. 7 The end links of the chain may be connected directly to the lugs 4; or they may be connected to somewhat larger links 9' which are connected to said lugs. The links of the chain: are preferably Welded links so as to'provide a chain or connecting element of great strength. The length of the chain 8' is much greater than the width of the base or platform l so that in use the 7 portion of the chain between the two side exercising elements 6'is positioned a suitable distance above the base so as to permit the person exercising to stand or sit comfortably upon said base and to perform the desired exercises without interference.

I The exercisingdevices 6 at opposite sides of the base or platform may be similar in construction, and eachmay comprise a liendle or handgrip 10 having at least one eye 11 to Whichis attached by any usual or suit able torm'o't connecting device 12 an elastic element 13. This elastic element may be a spring, or an elastic cord, as usual in exercising apparatus anditis' attached by means" .10 one of the links of the chain 8. Preferably the handle 10 is provided with a plurality of eyes 11 so that a plurality of elastic cords or elements may be attacheu thereto and these elements or cords may be attached at their other ends to the same or different links of the chain 8.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 that the exercising elements or devices are securely connected by means of the chain 8 with the base or platform upon which the person stands so that the exercising elements may be expanded and retracted at will in different directions during the performance of different exercises the base or platform being securely held against the pull of the elastic elements during expansion thereof by the person standing or sitting upon the platform. The chain forms a very strong connection between the exercising devices and the base or platform, and the effective length of the exercising devices with respect to the base or platform may be readily changed or adjusted by connecting the connecting device 18 in different linksof the chain as will be readily understood. It will also be seen that the chain forms a means for limiting the extent to which the end of an exercising device, or the connecting device at the end thereof, can fly upwardly in case of breakage of the connection between the exercising device and the base. Thus assuming that the connecting element or chain should break between the connecting device 13 and the lug 4, or in the ease of breakage of said lug, the end of the exercising device can only fly upwardly to the extent permitted by the swing of the chain about the other lug 4 or about the point of connection of the lower end of the other exerciser 6. The extent to which the end of the exerciser can fly upwardly is thus limited to a relatively short distance so that the connecting device 13 cannot strike a vital part or organ of the body so that serious injury to the person exercis ing due to an accident of this nature is entirely prevented.

It will be understood particularly by reference to Fig. 3 that the connecting devices 13 of the exercising elements might be connected to one or other of additional links 11 connected to the length of chain, the connecting devices being connected in one' or other of these additional links or being connected in the lower links of the chain as desired to permit the necessary adjustment of the effective length of the exerciser element. In this form of the connecting element or chain it may be considered to comprise a length of chain with additional links at tached thereto intermediate the ends thereof, or it may be considered to comprise two lengths of chain extending upwardly from the apertured lugs 1 with a third length of chain connecting the two lengths of chain first mentioned. The purpose and function of the chain or chains is exactly the same as that mentioned in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

It is preferred to provide a third exercising device 7 attached to the base or platform 1 through the medium of the connecting element or chain 8 in order to permit a greater variety or scope in the number and nature of the exercises to be performed by the use of the apparatus. As shown in Figs. 1 and -'l this third exercising device or element con'zprises a loop member or belt 15 adapted to be placed around the waist or other part of the body of the person exercising, for ex- 17, one or more of which may be provided at each side of the loop or belt. These elastic elements or cords are preferably attached to the loop or belt 15 by bands or loops 18 of webbing or the like passing around the belt 15 and carrying rings 19 in which suitable or usual connecting devices 20 at the ends of the elastic members 17 are engaged. Preferably the belt 15 or the loops 18 are provided with flaps 21 to prevent. the connecting devices 20 or the rings 19 from rubbing or chafing the person to whom the belt is applied. The other ends of the elastic members or cords 17 are provided with suitable or usual connecting devices 22 adapted to be connected into one or other of the links of the chain 8. The loops 18 may be aranged to be movable along the belt to adjust the relative position of the upper ends of the elastic elements 17 according to the nature of the exercise to be performed. This belt or loop exerciser is intended to be used by bending the body in different directions against the pull of the elastic members or cords, that is, assuming the person to be standing upon the base 1 with the belt 15 around the waist and with the elastic mem bers 17 at his sides the exercise may be performed by bending the body sideways in opposite directions so as to alternately extend the elastic members. If the person stands on the base 1 with the body in a position at right angles to the position above referred to with the elastic members 17 at the front and rear the exercises may he performed by bending the body backwardly and forward ly to alternately extend the elastic members. In these uses of the belt exerciser it also serves as a reducing device for the removal or reduction of fatty tissue from the body. When applied about an upper part of the llt) intact/1 foriexamplei about the neck and resting upon the shoulders, the ex} erclserinay beused to GXBIICISE var ous mus the elastic members, and during suclr exer cise the lojops 18 moved toa position closely adjacent each other; either at the front or atthe rear of the belt.

llie, adjustment in height of the belt' or loop 15 maybe effected Within certainlimits by means of the adjustable connecting means forinedvby the chain 8, and where a greater adjustment is desired elastic members or cords 17 ofmliife i'ent lengths may be used or elastic members or cords, the effective length of which may be adjusted or varied, may be used.

It Will be read ly understood that the exe1'-- cising apparatus of the present invention may be used in a large variety of ways, such as to exercise or develop practically all of the muscles of the'body and atthe same time the structure of the apparatus is such that it maybe easily and cheaply manufactured but yet will be strong and effective, and it may be used in any place, outdoors or indoors, and it may be readily carried about or transported.

The invention is not limited to the precise details hereinbefore describedas the various features of construction may be variously modified within the scope of the claims appended hereto. For example, the elastic members or cords of the exercising devices may be provided with devices for permitting adjustment of the length thereof either at the point of connection withthe chain 8 or at the point of connection with the handle 10, or in the case of the exerciser 7 at the point of connection with the chain 8 or at the point of connection With the belt 15, such for example as are described in my copen'ding applicationNo. Gt1,301 filed May 25, 1923. Also instead of providing the bar or strip 3 in conjunction with the base or platform 1 a bar or strip might be employed provided with attaching lugs or brackets, such as 4:, and provided with transverse ex- .ten-sions or plates upon which the person exercising could stand so that the bar or strlp would constitute a base or support having the same function as that of the base or platform 1.

What I claim is:

1. Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a base member adapted to rest upon the floor, flexible connecting means i said devices.

be, and a plurality 2; Exercising apparatus; comprising in combination, base member adapted torest" upon'the'fldor, a flexible noii-ex'tensible con necting" lement, connected at opposite ends thereof to oppositehsidesjof said base mem of independent le'xer cising device's coniiec tedito saidflexible connecting'elemnt. v r I 3, Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a base'member adapted to rest upon the floor, a flexible connecting element connected at opposite endsther'eof'to oppo site sides ofsai d base member, and ofgreater length than the Width of said member, andv a plurality of independent exercising de vices game-cred to said flexible connecting element, a

f. Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a base member adapted to rest upon the floor, a chain connect-ed at'opposite ends thereof to opposite sides of said base member, and a. plurality of independent exercising devices connected to said chain.

5. Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a base member adapted to rest upon the floor, apertured lugs provided at opposite sides of said base member each bent up from a strip securedbeneath said member, a flexible connecting element connected at opposite ends thereof to said lugs, and a plurality of independent exercising devices connected to said flexible connecting element,

6. Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a base member adapted to rest upon the floor, a flexible element connected at opposite ends thereof to opposite sides of said base member, and a plurality of independent exercising devices connected to said element, said element having a plurality of connecting points along the length thereof to permit adjustable connection of the exercising devices therewith. c

7. Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a bar to receive the feet of the person exercising, a flexible element connected at oppositeends thereof to opposite ends of said bar, and a plurality of independent exercising devices connected to said. element.

8. Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a support adapted to rest upon the floor, a flexible non-extensible connecting element attached at opposite ends thereof to opposite sides of said support, elastic members attached at one end of each thereof to said element, and a flexible loop member or belt to which the other ends of said elastic members are connected.

9. Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, asupport adapted to rest upon the floor, a flexible connecting element attached at opposite ends thereof to opposite sides of said support, elastic members attached at one end of each thereof to said element, a flexible loop member or belt, and

means adjustable along the length of said loop member or belt and to which the other ends of said elastic members are connected.

10. Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a support adapted to rest upon the floor, a chain attached at opposite ends thereof to opposite sides of said support, elastic members attached at one end of each thereof to said chain intermediate the ends thereof, and a flexible loop member or belt to which the other ends of said elastic mem bers are connected.

11. Exercising; apparatus, comprising in combination, a support adapted to rest upon the floor, flexible connecting means connect' ed to opposite sides of said base member and providing a plurality of connecting points in the length thereof, elastic members attached at one end of each thereof to said connecting means, and a flexible loop member or belt to which the other ends of said elastic members are connected.

12. Exercising apparatus, comprising in combination, a support adapted to rest upon the floor, a flexible connecting element attached at opposite ends thereof to opposite sides of said support and providing a plurality of connecting points in the length thereof. a plurality of elastic members attached at one end of each thereof to said element, and a flexible loop member or belt to which the other ends of certain of said elastic members are connected, the remaining elastic members being; provided with manipulating handles at the other ends thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LEO FRANKENFELD. 

